Bio‐plastics and elastomers from polylactic acid/thermoplastic polyurethane blends

Abstract

Blends of two biocompatible polymers: thermoplastic polyester‐urethane (TPU) and polylactic acid (PLA) were studied. The effect of the blending ratio on blend morphology and properties was examined by running a series of blends from 10 to 80 wt % of PLA. Increasing TPU concentration in the blends lowered the glass transition and melting point of PLA indicating that the components were compatible and partially miscible. The blends with 10–40 wt % PLA are hard, reinforced elastomers, while those with 60–80 wt % PLA are tough plastics. Cocontinuous morphology was suggested in samples with 40 and 50 wt % PLA. Inversion points between 30 and 40 wt % PLA (from globular phase is dispersed in the matrix to a cocontinuous morphology) and between 50 and 60 wt % PLA (a transition from cocontinuous to TPU dispersed in the PLA matrix) were observed. Elastomers with higher PLA content and intermediate morphology displayed a combination of high tensile strength, hardness, relatively high elongation and modulus. New materials have potential applications in the medical field. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 41104.

Renewable thermoplastic multiphase systems from dimer fatty acids, with mineral microfillers

“…It may be due to an overlapping of the DAPA cold crystallization and melting (Supporting Information Figure 2). Similar observations were reported e.g., for TPU/PLA blends . An assumption, which needs to be verified with additional tests, could be that the HS of TPU interacts with the DAPA leading to an increase in T c .…”

Simultaneously toughening and reinforcing poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic polyurethane blend via enhancing interfacial adhesion by hydrophobic silica nanoparticles

“…The PLA has a D -isomer content of 1.2-1.6% and a M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT density of 1.24 g/cm 3 . The TPU has a density of 1.21 g/cm 3 . The hydrophobic nano-SiO 2 (TS-530, Shanghai Kai Yin Chemical Co. Ltd., China) was pretreated with hexamethyldisilazane.…”

“…Extensive efforts have been made to overcome the inherent brittleness of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and blending it with an elastomer such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyurethane (PU) or natural rubber is the most commonly used method [1][2][3][4][5][6]. However, high contents of elastomer (higher than 30 wt%) need to be added to satisfactorily toughen PLA [1][2][3][4].…”

“…However, high contents of elastomer (higher than 30 wt%) need to be added to satisfactorily toughen PLA [1][2][3][4].…”

Modification of low‐molecular polylactic acid by CaF2 nanoparticles: A new approach to change its material properties

“…Recent publications also indicate a widening focus on researching of developing hybrid materials consisting of LMPLA or HMPLA with ceramic compounds or nanoscopic materials to improve mechanical properties of these biodegradable plastics . Already used in a wide field of applications, for example, in pharma industry as shell for hard capsules, packing material, disposable products, or hard plastics, it could become an even more favored product …”